The Weekly Shtikle - Leil Seder

As we get started with the maggid portion of the Haggadah, we discuss four different types of children, the questions they might ask and the responses we should provide for them. This is an appropriate exercise since the Haggadah – although relevant and mandatory for all regardless of age – is very much an exercise in chinuch.

Immediately following, we have a short paragraph discussing the appropriate time for the mitzvah of teaching one's children about the Pesach story. I might have thought it would begin on Rosh Chodesh, or perhaps the day before Pesach. However, the appropriate time is only when matzah and maror are placed in front of us. On the surface, this is simply a study of the halachic nuance of the mitzvah. But perhaps, at the same time, the Haggadah is teaching us some important lessons in chinuch.

In parting with the actual flow of the pesukim that discuss the questions and answers in the Torah, the Haggadah uses the same pasuk for the answer to the rasha and the eino yodeia lish'ol. This just so happens to be the pasuk that is expounded upon to establish the proper timing of the mitzvah. The rasha and eino yodeia lish'ol would seem to be the two more challenging characters in this set of children. We might want to devote extra attention to them – the rasha in order to steer him towards the proper path and the eino yodeia lish'ol because he is just getting started and needs help in order to ask the right questions. We might even be inclined to start early. But this paragraph in the Haggadah teaches us that presenting our children with the theory without the practice is not sufficiently effective. In order to properly imbue them with an appreciation of our heritage and the mitzvos that reflect it, they need to see it in action. Therefore, the appropriate time to educate them about yetzias Mitzrayim can only be while we have the matzah and maror in front of us, ready to eat. The chinuch challenge on seder night is not merely about saying. It is about saying and doing.

Have a good Shabbos and Chag Kasher ve'Sameiach!

For a collection of previous seder night shtikles, please check out my archive of past Seder shtikles.

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

Shtikle Blog Weekly Roundup:

Dikdukian: Hagieinu vs Yagieinu

Dikdukian: Chad Gadya

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The Weekly Shtikle and related content are now featured on BaltimoreJewishLife.com

The Weekly Shtikle - Tzav / Shabbas HaGadol

This week's shtikle comes with some sad news. My wife's grandmother, the matriarch of the family, Rebbetzin Faigie Frankel, passed away Monday evening in Toronto at the age of 102. The shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmasah, Leah Feiga bas Aharon Tzvi.

I must also mention the passing of Rebbetzin Shlomis Eisenberg, daughter of Rav Mordechai Gifter, z"l, and wife of Rav Ephraim Eisenberg, z"l, after whom our son is named, just a day earlier. The shtikle is also dedicated le'iluy nishmasah, Shlomis Feiga bas Mordechai.

Parshas Tzav is certainly not an easy parsha to mine for lessons relating to the events of this week. Dealing mostly with routine procedures regarding korbanos, one of the favourite targets for discussion is the korban todah, the special offering that is brought to give thanks for various different special occasions and circumstances. An interesting nuance occurred to me recently. With regards to some (although not all) offerings related to sin, we do find that the Torah provides options for people who cannot afford the full animal offering. Even though the full menu for the korban todah is quite extensive, featuring 40 loaves on top of the animal offering, there is no "lower cost" option provided.

To explain this we can suggest, at least on a homiletic level, that if someone were to have entered the mikdash in a state of tum'ah, for example, but could not afford the required animal sacrifice, it would be very difficult for him to collect the necessary funds. Imagine, for a moment, one of those tzedakah collectors walking around a shul with a note stating he is collecting for his korban asham. If one were to find himself in a similar predicament while trying to arrange a korban todah, however, the situation would almost certainly be different. To celebrate joyous occasions friends – and certainly family – always come together to help out and enhance the event. So there was never a fear that someone would be unable to put together what is necessary for a korban todah.

Of the many wonderful memories that friends and family have of Rebbetzin Frankel – Boobie, as she was known to family – perhaps the most overt and visible to all was her persistent presence and participation in family semachos near and far. She was fortunate to have most of her family nearby in Toronto. But when the situation arose she would not let distance get in her way. Even in her 90's she made difficult sojourns to Eretz Yisrael and New York for grandchildren's weddings. Even in recent years when movement and transportation became far more difficult, her presence at family events and yamim tovim continued and will certainly leave a lasting impression on us as well as our children. She will surely be missed. Yehi zichrah baruch.

Have a good Shabbos.

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

Shtikle Blog Weekly Roundup:
Dikdukian: שבת הגדול
Dikdukian: נעשה

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The Weekly Shtikle - Vayikra

This Sunday, 2 Nissan, marks the yahrtzeit of my Bubbie. This week's shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmasah, Yehudis bas Reuven Pinchas.

 

In pasuk 3:1 we are introduced to the concept of the korban shelamim. Rashi explains the meaning of the word shelamim as coming from the word shalom, peace, that it puts peace between Man and his Master. However, the wording chosen by Targum Onkelos for shelamim is rather intriguing. In all instances it is referred to as nichsas kudshaya, meaning holy slaughtering, which clearly does not follow the simple translation. Why?

 

One sefer on Targum Yonasan ben Uziel suggests that it was to show that shelamim is excluded from the laws of kodshei kadashim and is therefore only referred to as kodesh. 

 

However, a friend of mine offered what I believe is a more insightful answer. In 17:1-5 we are taught that in the desert, slaughtering an animal for one's own pleasure as we do today, was forbidden. Rather, anyone who wanted to eat an animal was required to bring it as a korban shelamim. The purpose of this is clearly stated in 17:5 "So that B'nei Yisrael may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, that they may bring them to HaShem..." The very essence of the shelamim was an animal that would otherwise have been slaughtered and eaten by its owner without any sanctification, but instead was brought to the mizbei'ach and made holy by being offered as a korban. This is in contrast with other sacrifices brought out of necessity. Since the shelamim represents the sanctification of what would otherwise have been mundane it is given the name nichsas kudshaya, holy slaughtering.

 

Have a good Shabbos. 

Mishenichnas Adar Marbim beSimchah (see Rashi, bottom of Taanis 29a)

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

Shtikle Blog Weekly Roundup:
Dikukian: Nusach for Birkas Ha'ilanos

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The Weekly Shtikle - Vayakheil / Pekudei

In this week's parsha, (35:30-35) Moshe Rabbeinu informs B'nei Yisrael that Betzalel will be in charge of overseeing the construction of the mishkan. He states that HaShem has instilled in him a special spirit of wisdom and understanding. After explaining this wisdom in more detail, Moshe adds (35:34) "ulhoros nasan belibo," and He has placed in his heart the ability or desire to teach. It was not sufficient for Betzalel to be familiar with all the crafts necessary for the construction of mishkan. He needed to be able to teach it to others so that they may participate as well.

In examining this pasuk more thoroughly, there are two very important lessons that are taught in this seemingly simple phrase. The first is that no wealth of knowledge ever guarantees the ability to teach. Betzalel was brought to the highest levels of knowledge and understanding but that was not enough. In addition to the wisdom vested in him by HaShem he also required a separate Divine inspiration for the ability to give over that wisdom to others. The art of teaching is a necessary wisdom unto itself. This point is made by Ohr HaChayim and R' Moshe Shternbuch on this pasuk.

This pasuk also teaches us that while one might attribute other areas of wisdom to the brain or mind, the essence of teaching is in the heart. It is not even enough for one to spend day and night studying and learning how to teach. No matter how much knowledge one is able to place in his brain, without a teaching heart it just does not work. Therefore, in addition to enriching Betzalel's intellect with the wisdom and knowledge to perform all the necessary tasks, HaShem instilled in him all the necessary components to make the training process as smooth as possible.

Have a good Shabbos.

Mishenichnas Adar Marbim beSimchah!

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

Shtikle Blog Weekly Roundup:

Dikdukian: Ve'asa Vetzalel

Dikdukian: Kikar Zahav

Dikdukian: The Lord and the Rings

Dikdukian: Sham and Shamah

For Parshas Parah:

Dikdukian: Let your Soul not be Desolate

Dikdukian: Oops (This one's funny. At least I think so.)

Please visit the new portal for all Shtikle-related sites, www.weeklyshtikle.com

The Weekly Shtikle and related content are now featured on BaltimoreJewishLife.com